Social Norm In John Updike's A & P

Capitalism and consumerism become a huge phenomenon in American society during 1950s. Economy in the United States increases rapidly after the World War II, which causing a large expansion of the middle class. During 1950s, the middle class has an increase in purchasing power and the need for more and better goods emerged rapidly. People tend to buy big houses in the new suburbs and buy new time-saving household appliances to achieve a perceived better life. Idea of conformity change become a norm in the middle class society in the late 1950s. People tend to keep the conventional role and stay in their comfort zone. John Updike’s “A&P” did a great job of illustrating the social norm of the society. The story challenges the conventional role

Sammy mentioned that “You never know for sure how girls' minds work (do you really think it's a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?) but you got the idea she had talked the other two into coming in here with her, and now she was showing them how to do it, walk slow and hold yourself straight” (129) as he observing the girls. Thus, this statement indicates Sammy being impressed of the girls’ determination to break the norms of bathing suit, which only decent to be worn on the beach. It also indicates how Queenie inspire and support her friend to do the same things. Queenie’s bravery can also be seen from the way she is answering Lengel after he embarrassed her. Sammy describes her voice when answering Lengel as “coming out so flat and dumb yet kind of tony” (131), which indicate she is fearless and not feel any guilt for what she is wearing. In addition, she is also bravely state “we are decent” as Lengel criticizes her as not decently dressed. From the evidence in the text, it indicates the girl is deliberately wear a bathing suit to the store. For instance, Sammy make some statements like one of the girl’s “belly is pretty pale” (129) which indicates no sunburn and “our town is 5 miles from the beach” (130) rejects the idea of the girls’ are coming from or about to go to the beach. Corey Evan Thompson makes a claims that Sammy is only interested in the girls’ bodies,

"The Art of John Updike's 'A & P'." Contemporary Literary Criticism Select, Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center, ezhc.ez.cwmars.org:4000/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=mlin_w_holycc&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CH1100068463&it=r&asid=3194017beea1fd53fe0bb271dfa8c631. Accessed 6 Apr. 2017. Originally published in Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 34, no. 2, Spring 1997, pp. 215-225.
Wells, Walter. "John Updike's 'A & P': a return visit to Araby." Studies in Short Fiction, vol. 30, no. 2, 1993, p. 127+. Literature Resource Center, ezhc.ez.cwmars.org:4000/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=mlin_w_holycc&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA14081343&it=r&asid=2ff3c5a175c3b565f02c44af3f44bbc8. Accessed 6 Apr. 2017.
Thompson, Corey Evan. "Updike's 'A & P.'." Contemporary Literary Criticism, edited by Jeffrey W. Hunter, vol. 214, Gale, 2006. Literature Resource Center, ezhc.ez.cwmars.org:4000/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=LitRC&sw=w&u=mlin_w_holycc&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CH1100068477&it=r&asid=729ff3f1bf8248a1c4dfd596f1205fc5. Accessed 7 Apr. 2017. Originally published in Explicator, vol. 59, no. 4, Summer 2001, pp.